WELL, KAI, THE PROTESTERS SAY THERE HAVE BEEN INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS WHO HAVE LOST THEIR VISAS. THEY’RE ALSO IN FEAR OF LOSING CRITICAL FUNDING DURING THIS FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION SHAKEUP. WE DEMAND HOPKINS DECLARE ITSELF A SANCTUARY CAMPUS. WORKERS AND STUDENTS AT JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY ARE USING THEIR VOICES TO PROTECT INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AND FUNDING. AMID CHANGES IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. THERE DEFINITELY HAS BEEN A LOT OF LIKE A LOT OF CONCERN AMONG PEOPLE ON CAMPUS ABOUT THESE ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION, BUT WE ARE STILL GOING TO STAND UP TO PROTECT OUR MEMBERS AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL AND OTHERWISE PEOPLE ON CAMPUS. THE O’S UNIVERSITY, OUR UNIVERSITY. MEMBERS OF TEACHERS AND RESEARCHERS UNITED PROTESTED IN FRONT OF HOPKINS MAIN HOMEWOOD CAMPUS THURSDAY. THEY BROKE DOWN. SPECIFICALLY WHAT ACTIONS THEY WANT THE UNIVERSITY TO TAKE, DECLARED JHU A SANCTUARY CAMPUS AND SURVEILLANCE OF THE STUDENT BODY AND DELETE THE DATA ALREADY COLLECTED. SUPPORT NON-U.S. CITIZENS ON CAMPUS. COMMIT TO FULLY FUNDING ONGOING RESEARCH PROJECTS AND COMMIT TO ACADEMIC FREEDOM AND SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY. WE’VE SEEN THE UNIVERSITY RETICENT TO RESPOND TO THESE DEMANDS, AND SO WE’RE USING OUR UNION POWER TO GET MOVEMENT AND TO SEE PROTECTIONS FOR OUR WORKERS. WE NEED CONCRETE ACTION PLANS. THEY SAY NOW IS THE TIME TO SPEAK UP, BECAUSE THERE’S NO TELLING WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE. THEY FEEL THEY WILL FACE OPPOSITION NO MATTER WHO IS IN THE WHITE HOUSE, AND THEY WILL KEEP SHOWING UP UNTIL THEIR DEMANDS ARE MET. NOW IS THE TIME TO ACT, BECAUSE IF WE DON’T DO ANYTHING NOW, IF WE JUST LET THEM ROLL OVER US LIKE THEY WANT TO, THEN WE’RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO FIGHT BACK IN THE FUTURE. JOHNS HOPKINS SENT US A STATEMENT ABOUT THE PROTEST, SAYING IN PART, WE HAVE REGULARLY COMMUNICATED WITH OUR COMMUNITY ABOUT THE RANGE OF SUPPORT SERVICES WE PROVIDE FOR OUR INTERNATIONAL AFFILIATES, AS WELL AS OUR LONG STANDING POLICY OF NOT PROVIDING INFORMATION ABOUT A JHU AFFILIATES IMMIGRATION STATUS UNLESS REQUIRED BY LAW, AND NOT ALLOWING IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES TO ACCESS TO PRIVATE FACILITIES ABSENT A COURT ORDER. REPORTING LIVE I
JHU protesters call for protecting international students, research funding
Updated: 10:07 PM EDT May 1, 2025
Johns Hopkins University workers and students want JHU to commit to protecting both international students and research funding amid federal government changes.Those speaking out spent much of Thursday picketing outside the university.”There definitely has been a lot of concern among people on campus about these actions taken by the federal administration, but we are still going to stand up and protect our members and other international, and otherwise, people on campus,” said Stephen Schmidt, a member of the Teachers and Researchers United Union.| MORE: More than 300 student visas revoked as government expands reasons for deportationThe protesters broke down specifically what actions they want the university to take: declare JHU a sanctuary campus, end surveillance of the student body and delete the data already collected, support non-U.S. citizens on campus, commit to fully funding ongoing research projects, and commit to academic freedom and scientific inquiry.”We’ve seen the university reticent to respond to these demands, so we’re using our union power to get movement and seek protections for our workers,” said Sheridon Ward, one of the protesters. “We need concrete action plans.”Protesters said now is the time to speak up, because there’s no telling what will happen in the future. They feel they will face opposition no matter who is in the White House, and they will keep showing up until their demands are met.”Now is the time to act, because if we don’t do anything now, if we just let them roll over us like they want to, we are not going to be able to fight back in the future,” Ward said. Johns Hopkins statementThe university sent a statement to 11 News, saying:”Johns Hopkins University deeply values our international students and staff, and we remain committed to maintaining health care, learning and working environments that allow for the discussion and dialogue essential to academic and community life. “We have regularly communicated with our community about the range of support services we provide for our international affiliates, as well as our longstanding policy of not providing information about a JHU affiliate’s immigration status unless required by law and not allowing immigration authorities access to private JHU facilities absent a court order. “Johns Hopkins was home to the early development of the concept of academic freedom in this country and it remains a foundational value at the heart of our mission. We are committed to the steadfast protection of free expression, as long as individuals and groups comply with our rules, policies and guidelines. Our guidelines include a prohibition on the disruption of Johns Hopkins operations, and we have been clear that acts of hate, threats and discrimination violate university policy and the student code of conduct.”
Johns Hopkins University workers and students want JHU to commit to protecting both international students and research funding amid federal government changes.
Those speaking out spent much of Thursday picketing outside the university.
“There definitely has been a lot of concern among people on campus about these actions taken by the federal administration, but we are still going to stand up and protect our members and other international, and otherwise, people on campus,” said Stephen Schmidt, a member of the Teachers and Researchers United Union.
| MORE: More than 300 student visas revoked as government expands reasons for deportation
The protesters broke down specifically what actions they want the university to take: declare JHU a sanctuary campus, end surveillance of the student body and delete the data already collected, support non-U.S. citizens on campus, commit to fully funding ongoing research projects, and commit to academic freedom and scientific inquiry.
“We’ve seen the university reticent to respond to these demands, so we’re using our union power to get movement and seek protections for our workers,” said Sheridon Ward, one of the protesters. “We need concrete action plans.”
Protesters said now is the time to speak up, because there’s no telling what will happen in the future. They feel they will face opposition no matter who is in the White House, and they will keep showing up until their demands are met.
“Now is the time to act, because if we don’t do anything now, if we just let them roll over us like they want to, we are not going to be able to fight back in the future,” Ward said.
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You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
Johns Hopkins statement
The university sent a statement to 11 News, saying:
“Johns Hopkins University deeply values our international students and staff, and we remain committed to maintaining health care, learning and working environments that allow for the discussion and dialogue essential to academic and community life.
“We have regularly communicated with our community about the range of support services we provide for our international affiliates, as well as our longstanding policy of not providing information about a JHU affiliate’s immigration status unless required by law and not allowing immigration authorities access to private JHU facilities absent a court order.
“Johns Hopkins was home to the early development of the concept of academic freedom in this country and it remains a foundational value at the heart of our mission. We are committed to the steadfast protection of free expression, as long as individuals and groups comply with our rules, policies and guidelines. Our guidelines include a prohibition on the disruption of Johns Hopkins operations, and we have been clear that acts of hate, threats and discrimination violate university policy and the student code of conduct.”